Latest News from Nepal

Nepal`s Revolt against Royalty

Zee News April 20, 2006

By: Arunava Biswas As violence and protests mount against Nepal`s monarchy, the streets of Kathmandu are resounding with a question: Does this Himalayan kingdom need a tyrant king? A commoner in Kathmandu said, "Earlier we had put our faith in the King, now the people doubt the King`s actions." Fourteen months after King Gyanendra dismissed Nepal`s elected government and seized total power, the monarch of this beautiful but desperately poor country appears increasingly isolated, helpless as protesters against his rule fill the streets of Kathmandu and the death toll mounts from a Maoist insurgency. Protests against the monarch have escalated in recent weeks. The King has not publicly commented on the demonstrations, but analysts say his response has been to resort to heavy-handed methods that many people feared he would employ when he suddenly assumed the throne nearly five years ago.

Last February, Gyanendra took absolute control of Nepal, dismissing the elected interim government that shared power with him and declaring a state of emergency. He put Nepal into virtual lockdown: cutting phone lines, enforcing strict censorship and suspending many civil liberties. Dozens of politicians, student leaders and activists were detained. Now rising anger against him fuels the debate over what role he should play in this country of 26 million people. King Gyanendra has two enemies - the Maoist insurgency, which marked its tenth anniversary on February 13, and the political parties that have rediscovered their confidence after his coup. Analysts agree the chaos could see the King stripped of his power and even his throne. Role of International community A year after Nepal`s royal coup, the international community is looking increasingly helpless in its attempts to help find a solution to the country`s political crisis. Nepal witnessed intense diplomatic activity on a scale never seen before. Nevertheless, these activities seem to have produced no results as the three players in the power struggle - the

Maoist insurgents, political parties and the King - all look equally resolute to hold on to their positions. The key international players trying to intervene in the crisis have been the United States, Britain and India. The European Union and the United Nations have also sent special envoys and the UN has opened a human rights office in Kathmandu. All of them condemned the coup, demanding the restoration of civil and political rights. On his recent visit to India, US President George Bush asked Nepal`s warring monarchy and Left-wing rebels to shun violence and the King to restore democracy. The US, Britain, India and a number of other countries even temporarily recalled their envoys from Kathmandu. But neighbours China and Pakistan maintained that the change in political scenario was Nepal`s internal affair. Since the coup, American ambassador James Moriarty, British ambassador Keith Bloomfield and Indian ambassador Shiv Shankar Mukherjee have met Nepali opposition leaders several times. They have also met the King and repeatedly urged him to reach out to political parties, at times with harshly worded statements. The Nepalese government, which views such activities as interference in its internal affairs, even summoned the British ambassador to the Foreign Ministry for clarification in June 2005. The Maoist insurgency in Nepal is arguably one of the most successful insurgency of its kind in the world in recent decades. On an average two people are killed every day in the violence perpetrated by Maoists. It has affected the entire country, pushing it to the verge of becoming a failed state. This is what worries the international community, especially given the fact that the country lies between two regional giants, China and India, which surrounds Nepal on three sides. The US has made it clear time and again that it wants to prevent a Maoist takeover in Nepal and the only way to do that is through reconciliation between the constitutional forces in the country. However, the King looks in no mood to reconcile with the political parties and vice versa. Similarly, the Maoists have ignored calls to abandon violence. Failure of diplomacy

The American embassy in Kathmandu expressed alarm in early November over the potential alliance between the grouping of seven opposition parties and the Maoist rebels. Once again, it urged unity between the political parties and the monarchy. That did not happen and on November 17, a landmark 12-point "understanding" between the rebels and the opposition was reached in Delhi. Ahead of the deal, senior Maoist leader Madhav Kumar Nepal had a series of meetings in Kathmandu with the British, American and Indian ambassadors. Despite all such efforts, Kathmandu-based diplomats seem to have failed to make any headway in what they want to achieve in Nepal. Role of India However, Nepal`s geographic location and special relations with India means that Delhi has historically played a crucial role in resolving political crises in Nepal. India`s political stance towards Nepal is not very prudent. After the King dissolved Parliament, India stopped its support to Nepal -- including the delivery of weapons that are needed for the fight against Maoist terrorists. China took the opportunity to replace India as a weapons supplier. This way China got another "foot in the door" in India`s neighbourhood. India does not agree with a monarchy that is a political player, a monarchy that is competing for political power with the political parties. That role should belong, in a multi-party democracy, to the political party representatives, who are elected by the people of Nepal. The compromise that has been found between the conflicting parties in Nepal should be used by India to regain ground in Nepal. Gyanendra’s past Gyanendra`s unexpected ascent came from tragedy. In 2001 his brother, King Birendra, was gunned down with much of his family in a palace massacre apparently committed by Birendra`s son, the crown prince Dipendra, who also died. Gyanendra`s troubled inheritance was a numbed nation traumatised by the incomprehensible royal murders, an ineffective, squabbling political class and a countryside wracked by a violent Maoist insurgency. Until he assumed power, Gyanendra had enjoyed a reputation as a successful entrepreneur with interests in tourism, tea and tobacco. He headed Nepal`s conservation movement, pushing to create reserves to save the country`s rich wildlife resources. Although described as a hardheaded businessman, the 58-year-old monarch is also a poet who has been published under a pseudonym. The country, though, quickly fell into turmoil after the massacre, as the Maoists stepped up their campaign to create a communist state. Over the past decade, more than 12,000 people have died in the violence. As the crisis mounted in October 2002, Gyanendra dismissed the elected government, saying it couldn`t cope with the militancy, and installed a series of Prime Ministers. Then, last year, he took absolute rule. Every day, the debate over the king spills into Kathmandu`s streets. Until the international community seeks answers to these questions apart from dealing with the political forces within Nepal, many analysts believe the diplomatic manoeuvring in Kathmandu alone may not be enough to help restore democracy and peace.

India urges Nepal King to hold "genuine" talks

The Hindu April 21, 2006

Kathmandu, April 21 (PTI): As pro-democracy supporters stepped up pressure on Nepal King Gyanendra, India on Thursday bluntly told the monarch to have "genuine" dialogue with political parties and expressed its readiness to support all efforts to restore multi-party democracy in the Himalayan Kingdom. During a two-hour meeting with the King, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's Special Envoy Karan Singh emphasised that a lasting solution to the problems of Nepal has to be found by the people of this country through a "peaceful political process." Karan Singh drove through the city, under an 18-hour curfew, to the Narayanhity Royal Palace for the meeting mainly aimed at impressing the King to initiate a dialogue with the political parties which are demanding restoration of total democracy and release of all political prisoners. "The Special Envoy stressed the need for genuine dialogue between the constitutional forces in Nepal, with the objective of urgently restoring multi-party democracy in the country in order to overcome the crisis that Nepal is faced with," the Indian embassy here said in a brief statement on the talks. Singh conveyed to the King India's readiness to support all efforts towards this end while "emphasising that a lasting solution to the problems of Nepal has to be found by the people of Nepal through a peaceful political process," it said. Singh's two-day visit took place in the backdrop of the current political developments in Nepal which have been a cause of deep concern to India.

Nepal braced for fresh protests

BBC NEWS, April 21st, 2006

Opposition leaders in Nepal have called for a new mass rally on Friday, to back their demands that King Gyanendra give up direct rule and restore democracy. They say a general strike which has been going on for two weeks will continue until further notice. Police on Thursday opened fire on protesters who defied a curfew, killing three and wounding many more. United Nations human rights officials have condemned the "deadly use of force by members of the security forces". The king imposed direct rule in February 2005, saying the government had failed to defeat Nepal's Maoists. The opposition alliance has called for its supporters to demonstrate on Kathmandu's ring road on Friday. The capital has seen two weeks of national strikes and protests by an alliance of seven opposition parties. Thurday's deaths occurred during a 25-hour, shoot-on-sight curfew - imposed in the city centre to 200 metres beyond its ring road - that finally expired at 2115 GMT. Sources at the hospital where the dead protesters were taken said police had seized the bodies and brought them to a government hospital. Ten people have been killed elsewhere since the strike began. The defence ministry said another 26 people were wounded on Thursday when security forces opened fire on protesters in the town of Gulariya, 500km (310 miles) south-west of Kathmandu.

The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Kathmandu says the protests are the most significant display of anger with the king since he took office in 2001. The UN in Geneva released a statement by its human rights investigators condemning "the excessive and deadly use of force by members of the security forces against protesters and innocent bystanders". Some of the worst violence was in the Kalanki area, in the west of Kathmandu. One protester there, Hari Sharan Mahajan, 58, said the rally was peaceful until a helicopter came overhead. "As soon as the chopper came the police went insane. As I am an old man I couldn't run so I was hit, mostly on the head and on my hands and my legs are so swollen I still can't walk." Prakash Neupane, a professor attending the protest, said he could confirm the three deaths - one with gunshot wounds to the chest, the others to the head. British ambassador to Nepal Keith Bloomfield told the BBC the situation was "deteriorating rapidly". He said Indian envoy Karan Singh had held talks with King Gyanendra and delivered a "very tough message". "We believe the complete restoration of democracy is an essential first step," Mr Bloomfield said. "If the king doesn't act immediately... the constitutional monarchy may no longer be on the table." Mr Singh, who has returned to Delhi, said he was hopeful of a royal announcement soon that would "considerably defuse the situation". The government has accused Maoist rebels of infiltrating the rallies to sow violence.

UN condemns Nepal rally killings

BBC NEWS, April 20th 2006

UN human rights experts have condemned Nepal's security forces for "excessive and deadly use of force" after three people died at anti-monarchy rallies. They said there was "indiscriminate firing" as at least 100,000 people defied a curfew to protest against King Gyanendra in the capital, Kathmandu. Doctors say at least 40 others were injured, some seriously. The king imposed direct rule in February 2005, saying the government had failed to defeat Nepal's Maoists. Thursday's deaths were the first in the capital during two weeks of national strikes and protests by an alliance of seven opposition parties. The deaths occurred during a 25-hour, shoot-on-sight curfew - imposed in the city centre to 200 metres beyond its ring road - that finally expired at 2115 GMT. Sources at the hospital where the dead protesters were taken said police had seized the bodies and brought them to a government hospital. Ten people have been killed elsewhere since the strike began. The defence ministry said another 26 people were wounded on Thursday when security forces opened fire on protesters in the town of Gulariya, 500km (310 miles) south-west of Kathmandu. The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Kathmandu says the protests are the most significant display of anger with the king since he took office in 2001. The king has made no public statements during the day. The UN in Geneva released a statement by its human rights investigators condemning "the excessive and deadly use of force by members of the security forces against protesters and innocent bystanders". It continued: "The law enforcement agencies have resorted to indiscriminate firing of rubber bullets - even on occasion live ammunition - into crowds, beatings, raids on homes and destruction of property."

Some of the worst violence was in the Kalanki area, in the west of Kathmandu. One protester there, Hari Sharan Mahajan, 58, said the rally was peaceful until a helicopter came overhead. "As soon as the chopper came the police went insane. As I am an old man I couldn't run so I was hit, mostly on the head and on my hands and my legs are so swollen I still can't walk." Prakash Neupane, a professor attending the protest, said he could confirm the three deaths - one with gunshot wounds to the chest, the others to the head. British ambassador to Nepal Keith Bloomfield told the BBC the situation was "deteriorating rapidly". He said Indian envoy Karan Singh had held talks with King Gyanendra and delivered a "very tough message". "We believe the complete restoration of democracy is an essential first step," Mr Bloomfield said. "If the king doesn't act immediately... the constitutional monarchy may no longer be on the table." Mr Singh, who has returned to Delhi, said he was hopeful of a royal announcement soon that would "considerably defuse the situation". The opposition alliance has called for another mass protest at the ring road on Friday. The government has accused Maoist rebels of infiltrating the rallies to sow violence. In addition to the curfew, the government has doubled the length of detention orders on a number of imprisoned human rights campaigners and opposition politicians. Minendra Rijal of the opposition Nepali Congress party told the BBC that the will of the people was for King Gyanendra to restore democracy. "King Gyanendra has to be ready to hand over power to the people's representatives," he said. "Our basic aim is to hold elections to the constituent assembly. Anything else is not acceptable to the people of Nepal."

King will speak soon: Karan Singh

Ekantipur.com, April 20th 2006

BY SURENDRA PHUYAL

NEW DELHI, April 20 - Hours after meeting King Gyanendra at the Narayanhiti Royal Palace, Indian Prime Minister's Special Envoy Dr Karan Singh has said that the king will soon make an announcement to diffuse the crisis in the country. The ball is in the king's court now," Singh told the media upon arrival in New Delhi, Thursday. During his two-hour-long meeting with the king, Singh conveyed "India's deep concern over the situation" and passed on the letter from Dr Manmohan Singh. "My meeting with the king was positive," he said, as he expressed his concerns over the people facing day-to-day economic and political hardships. Soon after arriving with Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran and Joint Secretary Pankaj Saran, Dr Singh was busy in a meeting with top Indian officials, sources said. Soon, he is expected to meet the Prime Minister.
Meanwhile, as India from coast to coast followed Nepal developments, Indian media have floated two more prospective interlocutors to help manage the Nepal crisis. They include top CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechuri who is expected to bring the Maoists, the seven parties and the international community together, and former foreign minister and BJP leader Jashwant Singh, who visiting Kathmandu early next to meet the king.

Thousands protest in Kathmandu defying curfew; police open fire in Kalanki

Ekantipur.com, April 20th 2006

Armed policemen fired live bullets, rubber bullets and tear gas as thousands of peaceful protesters tried to move forward breaking the security cordon in Kalanki Thursday afternoon.
Preliminary reports said at least 12 protesters were injured, three of them critically in the firing.
The protesters who threw stones at armed policemen, ran through the rice fields as police opened fire and baton charged to disperse the crowd. Earlier, thousands of people from neigbouring villages had joined the rally waving party flags and chanting anti-king slogans.Situation in Kalanki is reported to be tense. In Gongabu, thousands of people took to the street defying curfew orders, eyewitnesses said. Protesters pelted stones at the police who in return fired dozens of tear gas to bring the situation under control. Residents in the area spalshed water on protesters to counter the effect of tear gas. In Chabahil, thousands of people took out a demonstration as armed police watched by. The security forces deployed in the area has not allowed to move the protesters into the main road. Meanwhile doctors at the Kathamndu Model Hospital said that at least 30 protesters, some with serious injuries have been brought at the hospital by 3 in the afternoon. The hospital sources said that the number of injured were increasing. Reports said that tens of thousands of protesters demanding restoration of complete democracy converged at several other places in the outskirts of Ring Road Thursday defying the curfew orders.
Details to follow.